“I was very sad because of this,” he said. “I believe that sometimes you can have a problem with an opponent. But he's French on top of all this, and we were getting along very well before that. We were talking about soccer... Why should we have that huge fight in a first-round match? I know I have also very many other things to learn, but I'm very sad this happened with a French player.”

The 23-year-old Paire has an explosive temper but says that he is comfortable with his personality.

“I don't want to change my personality,” said the 33-ranked Paire. “I am the way I am. I've been working very well with my coach (Lionel Zimbler) for the past three years and I think what we achieved is exceptional. At the time nobody thought it would be possible. People were telling [him], ‘You will never be able to control him.’ But look now. I'm about to play the French Open and be maybe seeded.”